Stagecoach East Scotland

[Blindtraveler]

I think the NHS and by default of that all the layers of Government are really into hospital buses at any cost which is maybe why the 41s being kept? I would also think the boxingday and Jan 2nd cuts will be protested against strongly and wouldnt be surprized if these are iether reversed or run commercially as0a lot of workers and shoppers use these. I hope the council do change there mind here as the drivers deserve better pay on0such dates.↲

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Has 47246 (OA05RKA) and 22601 (V601GCS) been at Perth long? Noticed them today doing the usual city centre routes...

 

[Kiewii]

Has 47246 (OA05RKA) and 22601 (V601GCS) been at Perth long? Noticed them today doing the usual city centre routes...

Yep, they've been there a few months

 

[overthewater]

Strange, thats all I can say.

PM0000004/661 - FIFE SCOTTISH OMNIBUSES LTD T/A STAGECOACH IN FIFE, OFFICES 47-51, EVANS BUSINESS CENTRE, JOHN SMITH BUSINESS PARK, KIRKCALDY, KY2 6HDRegistration Accepted
Starting Point: South Queensferry, Sommerville Gardens
Finish Point: Dunfermline bus depot
Via:
Service Number: 55A
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 03-MAR-2014
Other Details: New

PM0000004/660 has yet to appear....

 

[Volvodart]

PM0000004/660 has yet to appear....

Its a 40(40A) between Edinburgh bus station and South Queensferry, Sommerville Gardens.

 

[overthewater]

Its a 40(40A) between Edinburgh bus station and South Queensferry, Sommerville Gardens.

* Council contract?
* Competition?
* First pulling out of South Queensferry?

It seems rather odd.

 

[jamieintercity]

Arbroath's 27546 was on the 77 route in Dundee yesterday and Forfar's 20 branded 19899 was on the 73 yesterday. Has Dundee's 22564 lost its 77 brand recently as I saw it in Dundee working a 16 service yesterday.

I gather that all pyoneers and varios at blairgowrie are now withdrawn with the olys and solos now in service.

Is 16077 the last oly in Fife and when will it be withdrawn from service?

Will there be any buses arriving or leaving the east Scotland depots in the next few months?

 

[robertclark125]

Back in the 1990s, Stagecoach Fife did the last Edinburgh - South Queensferry under contract to Lothian regional Council (later Edinburgh City Council), and extended it to Dunfermline as a 55. So likely that's the case again.

 

[overthewater]

I would like to think its a contract but nothing ever appeared on "publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk"

 

[Blindtraveler]

be nice to think that it was competition for first though. As I understand it, 43 is one of Livingstons few comercial moneymaking runs and well I dont like First too much so competition for them suits me!

 

[overthewater]

be nice to think that it was competition for first though. As I understand it, 43 is one of Livingstons few comercial moneymaking runs and well I dont like First too much so competition for them suits me!

If it turns out to be council contract, I doubt it much of a money spinner anymore.

 

[DunsBus]

Rumours I've heard suggest that First are withdrawing the 43 entirely with Stagecoach taking it over as service 40/40A, New deckers are apparently on the way to run it. Livingston have never really got to grips with the 43 since taking it over from Linlithgow depot and it's also somewhat detached from the rest of the work that they do.

 

[overthewater]

That cant be good for Livingston depot as the no43 did make money, It does leave a few questions

* Why hasn't Lothian buses taken over the route?
* What kind of deal has taken place, between Stagecoach and First?
* Whats going to happen to Livingston depot in the long term?
* New deckers, that going to be interesting when the bridge is closed to Double decker buses.

 

[tbtc]

If its tendered journeys on the existing service then seems odd not to use the same service number (43).

If its a competing service then I can see some logic in 40, to tie in with the LRT service up the Queensferry Road. And there's presumably less "dead mileage" in it being run from Dunfermline than from Livingston?

What next?

 

[DunsBus]

That cant be good for Livingston depot as the no43 did make money, It does leave a few questions

* Why hasn't Lothian buses taken over the route?
* What kind of deal has taken place, between Stagecoach and First?
* Whats going to happen to Livingston depot in the long term?
* New deckers, that going to be interesting when the bridge is closed to Double decker buses.

The last time Lothian ran out to South Queensferry, in the early 1990s, it didn't make money for them although this was largely down to errors on Lothian's part. Poor timings, wrong vehicle choice (older Atlanteans over newer Olympians), the Lothian route following a different one in SQ to that of the SMT 43, the fact that it often got snarled up in traffic on Queensferry Road thus playing havoc with the timekeeping and the operating hours of the Lothian service (Monday-Saturday until 7pm with no Sunday buses, unlike the SMT 43 which ran all day all week) were all key factors in Lothian's withdrawal from SQ. Added to that there wasn't demand on that run for two operators.

The 43 can't be that much of a moneyspinner for First if they're apparently withdrawing it and I doubt it will have too much of an effect on Livingston depot. I would suspect that if high winds were forecast then Stagecoach would send over the high-capacity Profile coaches instead of the deckers to meet demand.

 

[overthewater]

If 43 is not a money spinner, then why would stagecoach want and order brand new buses? There might be better of using some of the ex first stock with the leather seats etc instead of dashing off on new equipment.

 

[tbtc]

The last time Lothian ran out to South Queensferry, in the early 1990s, it didn';t make money for them although this was largely down to errors on Lothian's part. Poor timings, wrong vehicle choice (older Atlanteans over newer Olympians), the Lothian route following a different one in SQ to that of the SMT 43, the fact that it often got snarled up in traffic on Queensferry Road thus playing havoc with the timekeeping and the operating hours of the Lothian service (Monday-Saturday until 7pm with no Sunday buses, unlike the SMT 43 which ran all day all week) were all key factors in Lothian's withdrawal from SQ. Added to that there wasn't demand on that run for two operators.

The 43 can't be that much of a moneyspinner for First if they're apparently withdrawing it and I doubt it will have too much of an effect on Livingston depot. I would suspect that if high winds were forecast then Stagecoach would send over the high-capacity Profile coaches instead of the deckers to meet demand.

I thought that the Lothian route was okay (providing a faster service for much of South Queensferry by omitting Dalmeny, but it did mean that their buses to Edinburgh went from the "wrong" side of the road (which probably put off a few passengers).

The main error that they made (IMHO) was the ridiculously long route 66 from Seaton Sands to South Queensferry - that was never going to provide a reliable service!

IF the story about First giving up the 43 is correct then is this allowed under the Scotrail "restrictions"?

 

[overthewater]

IF the story about First giving up the 43 is correct then is this allowed under the Scotrail "restrictions"?

No43 is NOT a Controlled route linked to Scotrail.

Going by new money: 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 are the only controlled routes left with FSE.

 

[tbtc]

No43 is NOT a Controlled route linked to Scotrail.

Going by new money: 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 are the only controlled routes left with FSE.

Cheers for confirming.

There seems to be no rhyme/ reason for why some routes are "controlled" and others aren't, hence my confusion!

 

[DunsBus]

I thought that the Lothian route was okay (providing a faster service for much of South Queensferry by omitting Dalmeny, but it did mean that their buses to Edinburgh went from the "wrong" side of the road (which probably put off a few passengers).

The main error that they made (IMHO) was the ridiculously long route 66 from Seaton Sands to South Queensferry - that was never going to provide a reliable service!

IF the story about First giving up the 43 is correct then is this allowed under the Scotrail "restrictions"?

The 66 IIRC was the extension of an existing service which had previously run between Seton Sands and Charlotte Square. When it was split in the summer of 1990, the 26 and peak-hour X66 covered the section from the city centre to Seton Sands and the 40 took over the section to Queensferry. A few years later the 40 was replaced on this section by the 18 as part of a recasting of services in north Edinburgh. The 40 and 18 were also cross-city routes, although not quite as lengthy as the 66 was. Off the top of my head the length of the 66 was twenty miles end-to-end.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I wouldnt be at all surprised that if the wind gets up the standby drivers rush off to SQ with Vnviro E300s. Better still an outstation may be later established? If so there in a good place to make inroads into other First runs or take over if the pull out.

 

[robertclark125]

If 43 is not a money spinner, then why would stagecoach want and order brand new buses? There might be better of using some of the ex first stock with the leather seats etc instead of dashing off on new equipment.

Because Stagecoach can order buses to their specification. Buying ex First stock is fine, as per Wigan. Trouble is, they're to another firms spec, and stagecoach would have to spend money bringing them up to stagecoach standard specs.

 

[Kiewii]

Has Dundee's 22564 lost its 77 brand recently as I saw it in Dundee working a 16 service yesterday.

Is 16077 the last oly in Fife and when will it be withdrawn from service?

22564 lost the branding in December.

16077 is indeed the last Olympian in Fife.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

I think it's high time Perth got some new buses, everything they get these days seem to be cascades from Fife, mostly Olympians. I can't believe Perth only has 7 low floor deckers, with the oldest being 17061 (T661KPU).

Yes I know Fife Council have an age limit as regards to what can be on the road, and they seem to enforce it as such as Fife seem to get no end of new buses. Now I know that Perth and Kinross Council has an age limit but they never seem to enforce it.

The newest buses that Perth got are the E350h's for the Goldine 7, only because they go past Souter's house. But there doesn't seem to be any real investment in Perth which is a shame really when you think that Stagecoach HQ is in Perth and Stagecoach started off in Perth you would think they would have the best of the best, but sadly this isn't the case.

 

[overthewater]

And here it is.

PM0000004/660 - FIFE SCOTTISH OMNIBUSES LTD T/A STAGECOACH IN FIFE, OFFICES 47-51, EVANS BUSINESS CENTRE, JOHN SMITH BUSINESS PARK, KIRKCALDY, KY2 6HD
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: Edinburgh bus station
Finish Point: South Queensferry, Sommerville Gardens
Via:
Service Number: 40
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 03-MAR-2014
Other Details: New service
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
There is talk First has no plans to withdraw its No43, so it looks like a "Bus war" is on the cards.

Stagecoach should really be looking closer to home in improving its portfolio.

 

[Stan Drews]

Now I know that Perth and Kinross Council has an age limit but they never seem to enforce it.

They have no limit regarding the age of buses on their contracted services.

 

[jamieintercity]

Some unusual buses were seen in Dundee yesterday.

Dundee's 16772 was on the 39 service vice an E300 but Arbroath's 27546 was still in Dundee on the 77. Was there another oly on the 39 yesterday? Is there a problem with the Arbroath based E300s recently?

16228 was on the 22 service and the Dundee vykings were also seen. 16931 was on the 16 and 16932 on the depot shuttle between the bus station and gourdie depot. Arbroath's 16929 was on the 73 but was on the 27A this morning.

Perth's 22719 was substituted on the 16 rather than a Dundee one and a st Andrews trident was on the 99 vice a scania E300 and I'm pretty sure I saw a blairgowrie oly on the 57 as well instead of a E400.

 

[Kiewii]

Some unusual buses were seen in Dundee yesterday.

Dundee's 16772 was on the 39 service vice an E300 but Arbroath's 27546 was still in Dundee on the 77. Was there another oly on the 39 yesterday? Is there a problem with the Arbroath based E300s recently?

16228 was on the 22 service and the Dundee vykings were also seen. 16931 was on the 16 and 16932 on the depot shuttle between the bus station and gourdie depot. Arbroath's 16929 was on the 73 but was on the 27A this morning.

Perth's 22719 was substituted on the 16 rather than a Dundee one and a st Andrews trident was on the 99 vice a scania E300 and I'm pretty sure I saw a blairgowrie oly on the 57 as well instead of a E400.

27546 is stuck to the 77 at the moment, has been on it the last three days. 16932 would have been on the depot shuttle after doing the 501 in the morning.

It depends when you saw the Olympian on the 57. There is a peak working that uses an Oly

 

[overthewater]

Does anyone else think, its strange, service no40 has popped up a few weeks after the accounts were published highlighting bad losses?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I still think it strange: Anyways...

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[robertclark125]

Why Alloa? Why not Fife?

When you say bad accounts, I presume you mean First East Scotland?